Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) is a form of diabetes which is underdiagnosed and appears to have characteristics of both type 1 (autoimmune in nature) and type 2 diabetes (adult age at onset and initial response to oral hypoglycemic agents).

Objective: To study features of patients with LADA diagnosed and treated in our clinic.

Material and methods: Retrospective study of patients attended in our clinic in last 2 years.

Results: We obtained data about 27 patients with LADA.

Mean age: 61.8 years, men age at onset: 47.55 (30–69) years, 55.6% women. 50% were obese (mean weight 69.66 kg), 75% were hypertensive and 75% had dyslipaemia. Mean HbA1c at diagnosis: 9.8%, mean Peptide C at diagnosis: 0.68. 66.7% had positive IA2 and 77.8% AntiGAD. Mean Insulin independence period: 60.4±46.5 months. Metabolic control: current HbA1c: 7.93%, number of hyperglycemias (>250) in a month: 2.5, number of hypoglycemias in a month: 2.1 and number of severe hypoglycemias in a year: 0.88. Current treatment: 55.6% are treated with basal and rapid insulin, 22.2% with OADs, basal and rapid insulin and 22.2% only with OADs and basal insulin. Complications: 22.2% have retinopathy, 11.1% have nephropathy, 0% neuropathy and 33% cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion: Our patients have a long time of insulin independence maintaining adequate control with OADS.

Diagnosis of LADA represents a challenge for the physician and the optimal treatment is not established.